Health Advisory

Yes, weather can affect health.

Winds such as Santa Anas can activate allergies.

“Wet weather tends to clear the air of pollen, but hot, dry weather enhances pollination,” says Dr. Andre’ Nel, associate professor at the UCLA School of Medicine. “Pollination usually requires drying of the plant part that releases the pollen. So dry, hot conditions enhance the rate of pollination.”

During cold, rainy weather, cold viruses and other viruses may cause flare-ups in conditions such as asthma, says Dr. Martin Laichtman of the USC School of Medicine.

Getting soaked in the rain can also lead to a cold, although the explanation is complicated.

“It isn’t getting wet that causes the cold,” says Nel. “But dampness and cold decrease the defense mechanism of the body surface tissue. If you’re exposed to respiratory viruses, their ability to gain a foothold is enhanced.”